Congratulations to our 2025 Putnam County Schools Young Writers’ Contest Winners!
Putnam County Schools is proud to recognize the outstanding creativity and talent of our students who were named winners in the County-Level Young Writers Contest! These young authors used their imaginations and voices to craft powerful, original stories—and we couldn’t be prouder.
GRADES 1-2
First Place: Hendrix Pauley, Lakeside Elementary
Second Place: Cole Norton, Rock Branch Elementary
Third Place: Norah Sheldon, Scott Teays Elementary
GRADES 3-4
First Place: Ronny Linville, Eastbrook Elementary
Second Place: Samuel Bradbury, Rock Branch Elementary
Third Place: Tori Bailey, Poca Elementary
GRADES 5-6
First Place: Eva Sturm, Hurricane Middle School
Second Place: Ivy Ware, West Teays Elementary
Third Place: Kynlee Dunlap, Poca Middle
GRADES 7-8
First Place: Tamara Rader, Winfield Middle School
Second Place: Caroline Hender, Teays Valley Christian
Third Place: Jasey Green, George Washington Middle
GRADES 9-10
First Place: Abbie McGhee, Winfield High School
Second Place: Ali Bailes, Buffalo High School
Third Place: Kaiden King, Teays Valley Christian
GRADES 11-12
First Place: CG Stone, Buffalo High School
Second Place: Matthew Halburn, Winfield High School
Third Place: Mackenzie Scott, Teays Valley Christian
A special congratulations to our first-place winners who represented Putnam County at West Virginia's Young Writers Day on May 2nd at the University of Charleston!
The West Virginia Department of Education, in partnership with the Central West Virginia Writing Project, Marshall University, the June Harless Center, and the University of Charleston, hosted more than 200 student writers for WV Young Writers Day where award-winning West Virginia author Nora Shalaway Carpenter addressed the future writers and families as the keynote speaker.
Participating students also engaged in grade-appropriate writing workshops led by education leaders and award-winning local writers. As part of the event, first-place state winners read their submissions, and county winners were recognized for their contributions.
Congratulations again to all of our Putnam County 2025 Young Writers Contest participants. Your work inspires creativity and excellence across our schools and our state. Keep writing, dreaming, and sharing your stories.